How many points does it take to suspend your license in North Carolina?

Points are assessed for convictions by offense date, and 12 points within three years can bring a suspension, or 8 points within three years after reinstatement.

Updated November 13, 2026

How long do points stay on your license in North Carolina?

All previous points are canceled when a driving privilege is reinstated, and suspensions look at points from a three-year period.

Does a driving course take points off in North Carolina?

A driver improvement clinic removes 3 points for drivers at 4 points on the 8-point scale or 7 on the 12-point scale, once every five years.

How to check your points in North Carolina

Your North Carolina driving record lists each conviction and the points it carries. See the North Carolina driving record page.

How North Carolina compares with nearby states

State	Uses points	The rule
Georgia	Yes	Each moving violation conviction adds points, and 15 points within 24 months brings a license suspension.
South Carolina	Yes	Speeding adds 2, 4, or 6 points depending on speed over the limit, and 12 or more points can bring a license suspension of three to six months.
Tennessee	Yes	Violations add points, and 12 or more points within one year leads the state to issue a notice of proposed suspension with a right to a hearing.
Virginia	Yes	Convictions carry 3, 4 or 6 demerit points. Twelve points in 12 months or 18 in 24 months requires a clinic, and 18 in 12 months or 24 in 24 months brings a 90-day suspension.

Rules checked November 13, 2026. NCDMV sets them and can change them. Your own record shows what applies to you. Sources: ncdot.gov.

See your own North Carolina record

Your record shows exactly what is on file for you.

North Carolina driving record

How many points does it take to suspend your license?
Each state sets its own limit, such as 12 points in 12 months in Florida. See how many points suspend a license in your state.
How long do points stay on your license?
In most states that use points, they count against you for one to three years. See how long points stay on your license in your state.
How to get points off your license
Points come off with time, and in many states with an approved driving course. What works in each state, and what a course does not remove.
Check license points
Your driving record shows the points on your license and the tickets they came from. How to check your license points in any state.